Mirrors Reveal Codes in Da Vinci Art, Book Says

Jan. 8, 2008 -- Another Da Vinci code is emerging from Leonardo's masterpieces, according to a forthcoming book by group of Da Vinci theorists who believe that biblical images are hidden within the master's artworks.

Worthy of a Dan Brown novel, the claim identifies Leonardo's mirror writing as the key to unlocking the code.

Click here to view images of mirrored works.

The Renaissance genius, who lived between 1452 and 1519, filled thousands of manuscript pages with a unique handwriting that flowed from right to left and reversed all the letters.

Scholars have believed that the artist developed this impossible writing simply because a left-handed Leonardo would have evolved a style of handwriting efficient for him.

But, according to Hugo Conti, a self-taught Argentinian historian who leads a mysterious group called "The Mirror of The Sacred Scriptures and Paintings," the writings conceal much more -- a key to secret images.

"It is easy to find invisible images in Leonardo's paintings. Many of his characters seem to be staring into space. In reality, they are indicating where one must place the mirror to visualize the images," Conti told Discovery News.

When applied to Da Vinci's painting "Saint Anne, the Virgin and Child," on display at London's National Gallery, a mirror reveals a figure which some cynical observers say looks like the Star Wars character Darth Vader.

According to Conti, the image resembles the ancient Old Testament god Jahveh, who represents the human mind's struggles against the vices of the body.

A similar face appears on Mona Lisa's right shoulder, as a mirror is placed right on a spot pointed at by her finger.

"The Last Supper," in which other probes have so far revealed a hidden Mary Magdalene, a woman holding a child, and a musical script, reveals a key image when a mirror is applied. According to Conti, one can see the Holy Grail itself overturned on the table when viewed with a mirror.

"The glance of the apostle James is not directed to Judas, but to where the Holy Grail, only viewable through a mirror, is overturned on the table, just between Jesus' hands," Conti said.